Speaking at the first 'Kannada Sahithya Sammelan' organised by the city unit of 'Kannada Shahithya Parishad' here, the former Mysore University Vice-Chancellor, who inaugurated the sammelan called upon the Kannadigas to strive for protecting cultural heritage and Kannada language.

Renowned writer Pradeep Kumar Hebri, who also spoke, appealed to the people to protect the sanctity of the language.